Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

Frequency and Volume

Working at the crossroads between architecture, sculpture and performance, the Mexico-born, Canada-based artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is well known for developing large-scale installations in public spaces. His work encourages both social interaction and audience participation through the deployment of new technologies.

The artistís immersive sculptural environments are at the forefront of artistic experimentation with new media, and regularly focus on political issues of surveillance and information ownership. For his first solo UK exhibition in a public gallery, Lozano-Hemmer transforms The Curve into an immense interactive environment. Frequency and Volume is composed of 48 radios, which can potentially all be tuned to different channels simultaneously. The 90-metre long arc of the gallery wall becomes a visual and sonic representation of Londonís radio spectrum, constantly changing according to the physical position of its visitors.

To watch a video of Frequency and Volume at Laboratorio Arte Alameda, Mexico 2003, click here . On entering the space, participantsí shadows are cast on the wall. Monitored by a video tracking system, each shadow tunes in to a radio frequency, changing channels as it moves around the gallery. The outline of a projected shadow affects the tuning, while its size controls the volume, thus the human body becomes an antenna able to tune into different frequencies. The resulting sound environment is a continuously evolving composition created by multiple contributors.

The Playful and the ProfoundDon't miss Lucy Bullivant, architectural curator, discusses the work of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and his explorations of sites and their occupants on 13 Jan 09 at 6.30pm